Journal box



Feb. 17, 1942. o. w. YOUNG JOURNAL BOX Filed Sept. 27, 1940 Maw 7271?.

HAS/l TTDRNE 2:

Patented F b. 11, 1942 JOURNAL nox Otto W. Young, MaplewoodaN. L, assignor to General Motors Corporation; Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware I Application September 27, 1940, Serial No. 358,612

2 Claims. v(on. sea-41) This invention relates to journal boxes and comprises all of the features of novelty herein disclosed. An object of the invention is to provide improved devices for absorbing end thrust of a journalled shaft, especially an axle in a railroad journal box. Another object is to provide a simple, compact and inexpensive thrust construction for journal boxes. Another object is to providean improved thrust construction wherein the thrust block self-aligns itself with the axle. To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of this character, the invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed. In its broader as roots, the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific construction selected for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawing in which Fi i is a vertical longitudinaLsection through the outer portion of a railroad journal box.

the spacing plates being just suiliciently loose so that they can be lifted out of the box when the cover 26 is removed, without loosening of the bolts 33. The holding plate is however substantially fixed or anchored with respect to the end wall 22.

Extending towards the axle, preferably as a part of the holding plate, is a hollow circular projectionfl which is internally cylindrical. Externally the projection is cylindrical for a portion of its length and the remainder is convexly rounded or tapering to the end as indicated at 44. Fitting tightly around the cylindrical portion of the projection so that it is internally confined and stretched is a resilient pad in the form of a substantially cylindrical cushioning ring 48 which can be of rubber or similar material such as Neoprene. The resilient ring seats or abuts at one end againstthe flat face of the holding plate 34 and at the other end against a fiat face on a Fig. 2 is one half a horizontal section and one thrust block 48 having a thrust surface 50 which half. a plan view of Fig. l, the cover of the box beis normally spaced from the axle but is intermitremoved. tently engaged by the axle whenever the latter The numeral ill indicates the outer or front porshifts endwise. The thrust block has a hollow tion of a railroad journal box having-pedestal exterior projection 52 which is internally cylinfianges M at the sides. An outer raceway sleeve drical for a portion oi its length and convexly M in the box carries roller bearings 118 which also rounded or tapered towards the end, the projecrun on an inner raceway sleeve it pressed on a tion tightly surrounding a portion of the resilient shaft or axle 20. The outer or front end of ringand-radially confining its outer surface under the box has an integral and wall 522 spaced compression. Externally the projection has vertiirern the end of the axle and terminating at cal faces 53 to cooperate with vertical interior the top at an inclined pad 2t surrounding an iaces on the side Walls 32 to prevent rotation of opening closed by a cover 26 removably fastened the thrust block but there is clearance between by screw bolts. A. shelf or pan iltl having a botthese faces. The projections partially telescope tom drain opening projects towards the bearto produce compactness. ings to collect oil from the delivery portion of The upper portion of the thrust block has the a lubricant collecting ring 30. The ring 30 has usual extension 54 with a finger or tool hole for bottom wall 3| and its side walls 32 xtended lilting it and it also has an oil collecting cavity to the end wall 22, its side walls being secured 55 leading to an inclined drain opening 56 which by bolts 33 to the end wall 22. The foregoing supplies the thrust surface with lubricant. structure is similar to that of the Gibbons Patent Welded to the thrust block is a tension bar in 2,133,024 and constitutes the environment in the form of a sleeve 58 which projects with apwhich the present improvement is embodied and preciable clearance through the projection 42 to for which it is especially adapted. a point adjacent to the end wall 22. The sleeve A holding plate 31 which is externally substanhas a groove to receive a split ring which entially square has its vertical side walls fitting gages the holding plate and holds the resilient freely between vertical internal side faces 35 in ring under an initial compression axially. The the side walls 32, removable spacing plates 36 beconnected parts handle. as a unit and can be reing interposed between the holding plate and the moved as a unit from the box by vertical moveend wall 22. The spacing plates 36 are externally ment and a slight tilting after the cover 26 and square and internally round. Other spacing 5" the spacing parts 36 have been removed. The plates 38 of inverted U-shape are interposed beprojection 42 supports the resilient ring and the tween the holding plate and forwardly facing resilient ring supports the thrust block, the thrust .shoulders on the side walls 32. Th holding plate block having clearance with the ring 30. The 4 and the spacing plates rest at the bottom on horiaxial compression or preload keeps the thrust zontal ledges or pads 40 on the bottom wall 3!,

block from tilting under its own weightand getring, as it deflects, to become increasingly confined radially. As the ring becomes more conlined, the load necessary to cause more deflection will increase. Thus the resistance to defiection will increase with movement of the thrust block and become a. maximum at full deflection.

The tapered or rounded surfaces let the rubber ieflect without cutting into it. The cushioning unit is very compact due to the partial telescopng of the various parts and it is wholly con- .-.ined in the space. between the end of the shaft and the end wall.

I claim: 1. In a device of the character indicated, a aurnal box, a shaft journalled in the box, the '1)! having an end Wall extending across and ipaced from the end of the shaft, athrust block interposed in the space between the shaft and the end wall, and means for supporting the thrust block for self-aligning cushioned movement with respect to the shaft, said means comprising a pair of circular confining surfaces projecting one within the other from the thrust block and the end wall, portions of said surfaces being cylindrical and the terminal portions being convexly rounded, and a resilient cushioning ring having internal and external cylindrical surfaces confined radially under initial compression for a portion of its axial extent by said' cylindrical surfaces of the projections and adapted to be radially compressed over increasing portions of its axial extent by said convexly rounded terminal portions as the thrust block is forced towards the holding plate by the shaft.

2 In a device of the character indicated, a thrust unit comprising a thrust block and a-connected holding plate, each having flat abutment faces opposed to one another and projections of different diameter extending one within the other from the abutment faces, a resilient cushioning ring having internal and external cylindrical portions radially confined under initial compression by the projections, the ends of the ring being flat, and means for limiting separation of the holding plate and the thrust block and comprising a tension bar projecting from one of said members through the other for causing the abutment faces to forcibly engage said ends of the ring to hold the ring under initial axial compression,

OTTO W. YOUNG. 

